2,948 research outputs found

    Mode Bifurcation and Fold Points of Complex Dispersion Curves for the Metamaterial Goubau Line

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    In this paper the complex dispersion curves of the four lowest-order transverse magnetic modes of a dielectric Goubau line (ϔ>0,Ό>0\epsilon>0, \mu>0) are compared with those of a dispersive metamaterial Goubau line. The vastly different dispersion curve structure for the metamaterial Goubau line is characterized by unusual features such as mode bifurcation, complex fold points, both proper and improper complex modes, and merging of complex and real modes

    Collecting single molecules with conventional optical tweezers

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    The size of particles which can be trapped in optical tweezers ranges from tens of nanometres to tens of micrometres. This size regime also includes large single molecules. Here we present experiments demonstrating that optical tweezers can be used to collect polyethylene oxide (PEO) molecules suspended in water. The molecules that accumulate in the focal volume do not aggregate and therefore represent a region of increased molecule concentration, which can be controlled by the trapping potential. We also present a model which relates the change in concentration to the trapping potential. Since many protein molecules have molecular weights for which this method is applicable the effect may be useful in assisting nucleation of protein crystals.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

    Efficient nonlinear room-temperature spin injection from ferromagnets into semiconductors through a modified Schottky barrier

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    We suggest a consistent microscopic theory of spin injection from a ferromagnet (FM) into a semiconductor (S). It describes tunneling and emission of electrons through modified FM-S Schottky barrier with an ultrathin heavily doped interfacial S layer . We calculate nonlinear spin-selective properties of such a reverse-biased FM-S junction, its nonlinear I-V characteristic, current saturation, and spin accumulation in S. We show that the spin polarization of current, spin density, and penetration length increase with the total current until saturation. We find conditions for most efficient spin injection, which are opposite to the results of previous works, since the present theory suggests using a lightly doped resistive semiconductor. It is shown that the maximal spin polarizations of current and electrons (spin accumulation) can approach 100% at room temperatures and low current density in a nondegenerate high-resistance semiconductor.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures; provides detailed comparison with earlier works on spin injectio

    The Incredible Years Autism Spectrum and Language Delays Parent program: A pragmatic, feasibility randomized controlled trial

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    Behavior problems in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are common and particularly stressful for parents. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of delivering a parenting program in existing services, and the feasibility of conducting a future large‐scale Randomized Controlled Trial evaluation of the effectiveness of the intervention. Parents of children aged 3–8 years with a diagnosis of ASD, or strongly suspected ASD were eligible to participate. A multicenter, pragmatic, feasibility randomized controlled trial was conducted in four specialist children's services in Wales. Families were randomly assigned to receive the Incredible YearsÂź Autism Spectrum and Language Delays (IY‐ASLD) parent program immediately or to a wait‐list, treatment as usual control condition. IY‐ASLD sessions were delivered once a week for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes related to feasibility (recruitment, retention, fidelity, and acceptability). Preliminary outcome analyses were conducted using covariance models controlling for study site and baseline scores. From October 5 to December 19, 2016, 58 families were randomized, 29 to IY‐ASLD and 29 to control. Three parents did not attend any sessions while 19 (73%) completed the program. Fidelity of delivery was high (88%), as was satisfaction with the program. Fifty‐three (91%) completed the follow‐up measures. All 95% CIs for effect sizes included zero in exploratory outcome analyses. This study supports the feasibility of delivering the IY‐ASLD in existing services with good levels of acceptability and fidelity evident. A larger randomized controlled trial is required to examine the effectiveness of the program. Autism Res 2019. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc

    Theory of Tunneling for Rough Junctions

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    A formally exact expression for the tunneling current, for its separation into specular and diffuse components, and for its directionality, is given for a thick tunnel junction with rough interfaces in terms of the properties of appropriately defined scattering amplitudes. An approximate evaluation yields the relative magnitudes of the specular and diffuse components, and the angular dependence of the diffuse component, in terms of certain statistical properties of the junction interfaces.Comment: 4 page

    Making electromagnetic wavelets

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    Electromagnetic wavelets are constructed using scalar wavelets as superpotentials, together with an appropriate polarization. It is shown that oblate spheroidal antennas, which are ideal for their production and reception, can be made by deforming and merging two branch cuts. This determines a unique field on the interior of the spheroid which gives the boundary conditions for the surface charge-current density necessary to radiate the wavelets. These sources are computed, including the impulse response of the antenna.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures; minor corrections and addition

    Quantitative nanohistological investigation of scleroderma: An atomic force microscopy-based approach to disease characterization

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    Scleroderma (or systemic sclerosis, SSc) is a disease caused by excess crosslinking of collagen. The skin stiffens and becomes painful, while internally, organ function can be compromised by the less elastic collagen. Diagnosis of SSc is often only possible in advanced cases by which treatment time is limited. A more detailed analysis of SSc may provide better future treatment options and information of disease progression. Recently, the histological stain picrosirius red showing collagen register has been combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study SSc. Skin from healthy individuals and SSc patients was biopsied, stained and studied using AFM. By investigating the crosslinking of collagen at a smaller hierarchical stage, the effects of SSc were more pronounced. Changes in morphology and Young’s elastic modulus were observed and quantified; giving rise to a novel technique, we have termed “quantitative nanohistology”. An increase in nanoscale stiffness in the collagen for SSc compared with healthy individuals was seen by a significant increase in the Young’s modulus profile for the collagen. These markers of stiffer collagen in SSc are similar to the symptoms experienced by patients, giving additional hope that in the future, nanohistology using AFM can be readily applied as a clinical tool, providing detailed information of the state of collagen

    Unified description of ballistic and diffusive carrier transport in semiconductor structures

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    A unified theoretical description of ballistic and diffusive carrier transport in parallel-plane semiconductor structures is developed within the semiclassical model. The approach is based on the introduction of a thermo-ballistic current consisting of carriers which move ballistically in the electric field provided by the band edge potential, and are thermalized at certain randomly distributed equilibration points by coupling to the background of impurity atoms and carriers in equilibrium. The sum of the thermo-ballistic and background currents is conserved, and is identified with the physical current. The current-voltage characteristic for nondegenerate systems and the zero-bias conductance for degenerate systems are expressed in terms of a reduced resistance. For arbitrary mean free path and arbitrary shape of the band edge potential profile, this quantity is determined from the solution of an integral equation, which also provides the quasi-Fermi level and the thermo-ballistic current. To illustrate the formalism, a number of simple examples are considered explicitly. The present work is compared with previous attempts towards a unified description of ballistic and diffusive transport.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures, REVTEX

    Casimir Energy of a Spherical Shell

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    The Casimir energy for a conducting spherical shell of radius aa is computed using a direct mode summation approach. An essential ingredient is the implementation of a recently proposed method based on Cauchy's theorem for an evaluation of the eigenfrequencies of the system. It is shown, however, that this earlier calculation uses an improper set of modes to describe the waves exterior to the sphere. Upon making the necessary corrections and taking care to ensure that no mathematically ill-defined expressions occur, the technique is shown to leave numerical results unaltered while avoiding a longstanding criticism raised against earlier calculations of the Casimir energy.Comment: LaTeX, 14 pages, 1 figur
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